Container System for Front End Loader Vehicle Bucket

ABSTRACT

A system for extending the load carrying capacity of the bucket of a front end loader vehicle utilizes an oversized container configured to be nested within the bucket of the vehicle. Attached to the floor of the container are receptacles for the insertion of the front end of the vehicle&#39;s bucket. Chains or like attachment devices, secured and tightened by ratchet style turnbuckles, are wrapped around the bucket to ensure that the container is rigidly maintained within the bucket.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to front end loader vehicles and moreparticularly o a container system for increasing the load carryingcapacity of the buckets of such vehicles.

Front end loaders and tractors comprising buckets are extremely usefulmachines, having a variety of load carrying capabilities. These machinesare particularly valuable in that their buckets are readily adaptablefor loading, transporting and then dumping large amounts of such thingsas dirt, rocks, leaves, debris, etc.

However, one disadvantage which has detracted from the versatility ofvehicle loaders is the limited size of their buckets. As the bucket isnecessarily a heavy, sturdy container structure, its size and loadingcapacity is dictated by the overall design of the vehicle and hence isrestricted by engineering and economic considerations. This smaller sizeand capacity naturally results in the less efficient operation of thevehicle, i.e. more trips are needed to transport large amounts of dirt,rocks, etc., with the attendant fuel and manpower expense, not tomention wear and tear on the vehicle itself.

While several attempts have been made, in the form of bucketattachments, to increase the load carrying capacity of the buckets offront end loader vehicles, such attempts have enjoyed very limitedsuccess. For instance, many of these attachments fail to materiallyincrease bucket capacity. Many are not easily positioned within thebucket or they do not provide an effective or practical means to besecured to the bucket.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is thus the object of the present invention to provide a containersystem for extending the loading carrying capacity of the bucket of afront end loader or like vehicle utilizing a front end bucket whichovercomes the disadvantages and limitations of existing systems orbucket attachments.

It is thus the object of the present invention to provide a system whichis easily and readily positioned and secured within the bucket of afront end loader or like vehicle, which greatly increases the loadcarrying capacity of the bucket.

These and other objects are accomplished by the present invention, asystem which increases the load carrying capacity of the bucket of afront end loader comprises an oversized container configured to benested within the bucket of the vehicle. Attached to the floor of thecontainer are receptacles for the insertion of the front end of thevehicle's bucket. Chains or like attachment devices, secured andtightened by ratchet style turnbuckles, are wrapped around the bucket toensure that the container is rigidly maintained within the bucket.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic of theinvention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. Theinvention, itself, however, both as to its design, construction and use,together with additional features and advantages thereof, are bestunderstood upon review of the following detailed description withreference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of the container of the presentinvention.

FIG. 2 is a front/bottom perspective view of the container of thepresent invention.

FIG. 3 is a detailed view taken from FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a detailed view similar to FIG. 3, without the inserted bucketof a loader vehicle.

FIG. 5 is a view of the rear wall of the container of the presentinvention, showing the manner of its attachment to a loader vehiclebucket.

FIG. 6 is a view of the container of the present invention positionedwithin the bucket of a front end loader vehicle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The system of the present invention for extending the load carryingcapacity of the bucket of a front end loader vehicle comprises oversizedcontainer 2 having back wall 4, side walls 6 and 8, bottom floor 10, andopen front 12. Back wall 4 and side walls 6 and 8 define the loadcarrying space of container 2. Cross beam 14 extends between side walls6 and 8 to maintain the structural integrity of container 2. See FIG. 1.As best seen in FIG. 5, reinforcement stiffeners 18, 20, and 22 areprovided on rear surface 5 of back wall 4.

With particular reference to FIGS. 2-4, bucket receptacles 24 and 26, tobe used with larger containers, and bucket receptacle 25 used forsmaller, lighter weight containers, are welded or otherwise permanentlysecured to bottom surface 11 of floor 10. Receptacles 24, 25, and 26 areidentical; representative receptacle 30 being shown in further detail inFIGS. 3 and 4. Each receptacle has backwall 28, intermediate wall 30,cantilevered extending section 32, and recessed opening 38 locatedbetween the intermediate wall and the cantilevered section. Eye section41 is attached to and extends out from cantilevered section 32.

The system of the present invention further comprises U-bolts 42, 44,and 46 configured to extend through openings at the bottom of stiffeners18, 20, and 22. Ratchet style turnbuckles 48, 50, and 52 are connectedat their upper ends to the U-bolts. Link chain or equivalent highstrength lines 54, 56, and 58 are secured at one of their ends to eyesections 41, 43, and 45 extending from receptacles 26, 25, 24,respectively. One chain is thereby attached to each receptacle. Theother ends of chains 54, 56, and 58 are configured to be looped throughthe lower ends of turnbuckles 48, 50, and 52, as described furtherhereinafter.

Limit stops 60 and 62 are secured to rear surface 5 of back wall 4.These stops can either be permanently secured to back wall 4 or, byproviding openings 61 and 63 in the stops, they can be height adjustableby connecting bolts secured through the openings and correspondingopenings 65 and 67 through the back wall.

The system of the present invention is specifically designed for usewith a front end loader vehicle, for example tractor 70. However, thesystem is not restricted to this one type of vehicle. It can be usedwith front end loader machines, bulldozers, forklifts, backhoes, etc.All the loader vehicles comprise an open bucket 72 having front edge 74,upper edge 76 and outer surface 78.

To install a large container 2, loader 70 is slowly driven forward,bucket 72 down, towards back wall 4 of container 2. The loader continuesmoving forward, such that front edge 74 of bucket 72 is inserted intothe receptacle openings (e.g. opening 38 in receptacle 26) of bucketreceptacles 24 and 26. When bucket 72 is moved forward such that frontedge 74 reaches intermediate wall 40 of the receptacles, loader 70 isstopped. Container 2 is now nested within bucket 72 of loader 70.

Once container 2 is nested within bucket 72, turnbuckles 48 and 52 arepositioned on outer surface 78 of bucket 72. Chains 54 and 58, eachconnected at one end to their respective receptacles 26 and 24, are thenwrapped around outer surface 78 of bucket 72, thus partly circumscribingthe bucket. The other ends of each chain 54 and 58 are looped throughthe lower ends of turnbuckles 48 and 52. Turnbuckles 48 and 52 are thenratcheted tight, so that container 2 and bucket 72 are snugly maintainedin the nested position. Limit stops 60 and 62 on rear wall 4, contactupper edge 76, thereby limiting the vertical movement and alsopreventing tipping of bucket 72 in relation to container 2.

By this configuration, loader vehicle 70 is ready for use with container2 and to increase the load carrying capability of the vehicle. Sincecontainer 2 is immoveably secured within bucket 72, loader vehicle 70can raise and lower the bucket without fear that the container willbecome detached from or fall off the bucket.

Container 2 can easily be separated from bucket 72. Container 2 andbucket 72 are first lowered to the ground. Turnbuckles 48 and 52 areloosened sufficiently enough to allow chains 54 and 58 to be removedfrom bucket 72. Loader 70 is moved in reverse and simply backed out ofreceptacles 24 and 26.

It is noted that when securing these larger containers, receptacles 24and 26, and their corresponding turnbuckles and chains, are utilized tomaintain the containers with the buckets. For smaller, lightercontainers, it is contemplated that only a centrally located receptacle25, with one set of turnbuckles and chains, would be required. FIG. 5depicts the use, in solid lines, of two sets of turnbuckles and chainsto secure a larger container. The centrally located system is shown inghosted lines.

Certain novel features and components of this invention are disclosed indetail in order to make the invention clear in at least one formthereof. However, it is to be clearly understood that the invention asdisclosed is not necessarily limited to the exact form and details asdisclosed, since it is apparent that various modifications and changesmay be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

1. A system for extending the load carrying capacity of the bucket of afront end loader vehicle comprising: a container having a back wall,side walls, a floor, and an open front, the walls and floor defining aload carrying space within the walls and floor; receptacle means locatedon the bottom of the floor of the container for insertion of the frontend of a bucket of a front end loader vehicle, whereby when the frontend of the bucket is inserted into the receptacle means, the containeris in a nested position within the bucket; and attachment meansextending between the back wall of the container and the receptaclemeans for maintaining the container in the nested position within thebucket.
 2. The system as in claim 1 further comprising means forsecuring the attachment means in a position between the back wall of thecontainer and the receptacle means.
 3. The system as in claim 2 whereinthe means for securing comprises a first connector on the receptaclemeans and a second connector on the back wall of the container.
 4. Thesystem as in claim 1 wherein the attachment means comprises a linkchain.
 5. The system as in claim 1 further comprising tensioning meansfor ensuring that the container and bucket are tightly maintained in thenested position.
 6. The system as in claim 5 wherein the tensioningmeans comprises a ratchet style turnbuckle connected to the attachmentmeans.
 7. The system as in claim 1 wherein the receptacle meanscomprises a laterally extending member having a recess opening in whichthe front end of the bucket is inserted.
 8. The system as in claim 1wherein the attachment means partially circumscribes the outer surfaceof the bucket.
 9. The system as in claim 1 wherein the attachment meanscomprises a link chain.
 10. The system as in claim 1 further comprisingstop means connected to the container for preventing tilting of thecontainer nested within the bucket.
 11. A system for extending the loadcarrying capacity of the bucket of a front end loader vehiclecomprising: a container having a back wall, side walls, a floor, and anopen front, the walls and floor defining a load carrying space withinthe walls and floor; receptacle means located on the bottom floor of thecontainer for the insertion of the front end of a bucket of a front endloader vehicle, whereby when the front end of the bucket is insertedinto the receptacle means, the container is in a nested position withinthe bucket; and a first connector on the receptacle means and a secondconnector on the back wall of the container; attachment means formaintaining the container in the nested position within the bucket, saidattachment means being connected at one end to the first connector andpartially circumscribing the outer surface of the bucket; and tensioningmeans for ensuring that the container and bucket are tightly maintainedin the nested position.
 12. The system as in claim 11 wherein theattachment means comprises a link chain.
 13. The system as in claim 11wherein the tensioning means comprises a ratchet style turnbuckleconnected to the attachment means.
 14. The system as in claim 11 whereinthe receptacle means comprises a laterally extending member having arecess opening in which the front end of the bucket is inserted.
 15. Thesystem as in claim 1 further comprising stop means connected to thecontainer for preventing tilting of the container nested within thebucket.